Sheriff cracks cockfighting ring, three jailed
by KTAR.com (July 2nd, 2009 @ 12:56pm) Policy >> Comments:10

PHOENIX -- Three men allegedly caught red-handed with evidence of cockfighting are facing animal cruelty charges, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

The alleged cockfighting ring was located in Harquahala Valley west of Phoenix, authorities said.

They said deputies went to the reported location earlier this week and, during a traffic stop in the area, arrested three blood-covered suspects who had several roosters, many of them dead.

The roosters were covered in blood and showed signs of distess and had to be euthanized by a veterinarian.

Eriberto Cuellar, 28; Hector Rivera, 31; and Jose Martinez, 19, were booked into jail on charges of animal cruelty and cockfighting. The suspects admitted they owned the roosters and held cockfights for profit, deputies said. They said Martinez and Rivera had immigration holds on them for allegedly being in the United States illegally.

http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1185662